Clean Nut Butter Cups

I'm baaaack!  I've been a little MIA the last few weeks due to my schedule changing a bit, which crossed with the times I usually blog.  I'm definitely coming back with an awesome, and super easy recipe for those sweet cravings.  I've been doing some research on ways to clean up my favorite candies which you saw first in my Clean Almond Joy Bites recipe and now I am tackling peanut butter cups.  I love peanut butter but prefer almond butter, and this recipe is so versatile, you can use any sort of nut butter that you prefer.  There are 3 ingredients which makes them even more amazing because there isn't any artificial, unnecessary junk in them!  Enjoy!

Clean Nut Butter Cups

Ingredients

1 3.5oz bar of 75% dark chocolate or higher
1 Tbsp raw honey
10 tsp nut butter of choice (I use Justin's Maple Almond Butter)
10 mini muffin liners

In a microwave safe bowl, break up the dark chocolate.  Heat the chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted.  The stovetop can also be used with a double broiler.  When chocolate is completely melted, add 1 Tbsp of raw honey.  On a small baking sheet, spread out 10 mini muffin liners.  Carefully scoop one small spoon full of chocolate in the bottom of each mini muffin liner, just enough to coat about 1/8 of an inch of the bottom of the liner.  Place baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes to allow bottom layer to harden.  When first layer of chocolate is hardened, remove from the freezer and add 1 tsp of nut butter to each mini muffin liner, followed by another spoon full of chocolate, enough to completely cover the nut butter.  Allow to harden for an additional 10 minutes in the freezer.  Remove liner and devour!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bites

Yes, you read that right!  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bites!  Delicious, clean and full of protein.  I have been baking a lot this holiday season.  My famous sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, gingerbread cookies.  I could easily eat a dozen of each of these cookies!  This season, I am trying really hard to establish some boundaries on my cheat meals.  Sure I will allow myself to indulge on the holidays, but I surely don't want one day to turn into a week, then a month, etc.  I decided to try to give a clean "cookie" a shot and came up with these no bake cookie dough bites, packed full of protein and completely guilt free.  They were very much a success and help fight those cravings for sweets around the holidays (and any day for that matter).  Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bites

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups raw cashews
2 scoops vanilla protein powder (I use non-GMO, Jay Robb, egg white protein powder)
1/2 cup pure honey
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

In a food processor, grind cashews until they reach a flour like consistency then add them to a medium bowl.  Add protein powder and mix well.  Add honey, coconut oil and vanilla, mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.  Gently fold in dark chocolate chips.  Form into balls and place on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet.  Allow to set in the refrigerator for an hour.